USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 37
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In 1876 Mr. Heath was married to Miss Martha S. Swain, a daughter of Colonel James A. Swain, an early pioneer of Milwaukee. To them were born three children: Arthur S .; Marie, the wife of Frank O. Lovell; and Alice, deceased. Mrs. Heath died August 13, 1916.
Mr. Heath is a member of the Old Settlers Club and also of the City Club and likewise has membership in the Association of Commerce. He has been a lifelong republican but never an aspirant for office, preferring always to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business. His success is attributable in part to the fact that he has always continued in the line in which he embarked upon his return to Mil- waukee in early manhood. He has thus become thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the trade and his increasing capability and power have brought him to a point of leadership among the grocery merchants of the city.
ALFRED G. SCHULTZ.
When one reviews the life record of a thoroughly successful man it is usually found that his early opportunities were not superior to those enjoyed hy the majority nor have his chances been greater than come to the multitude, his prosperity being won by reason of the fact that he has ever made wise use of his time, his talents and his opportunities. He has improved chances that others have passed heedlessly by and has shown an unusual degree of industry, determination and enterprise in con- ducting his affairs. This statement finds its verification in the life record of Alfred G. Schultz, who is the vice president of the National Bank of Commerce of Milwaukee and who through the steps of an orderly progression has reached the enviable posi- tion which he now fills. Born in this city on the 30th of July, 1865, he is a son of
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Daniel and Charlotte (Koenig) Schultz, the former a native of Alsace-Lorraine, while the latter was born in Black Rock, New York.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof Alfred G. Schultz enjoyed the educational opportunities afforded by the city schools and made his initial step in the business world when a youth of eighteen, by entering the Merchant's Exchange Bank in a clerical position in 1883. For ten years he remained with the bank, thor- oughly mastering many features of the business as he was promoted from time to time in recognition of his developing power and ability. When a decade had passed he left that institution and was promoted to the assistant cashiership of the West Side Branch at Third and Chestnut streets, this becoming later the West Side Bank. . A recognition of his sound business judgment and his influence in the community led to the choice of Mr. Schultz for the office of cashier upon the organization of the Germania National Bank early in the year 1903. The institution opened its doors on the 1st cf July of that year and the success of the bank has been attributable in large measure to the capability, progressiveness and thoroughly reliable methods of Mr. Schultz. He had acquainted himself with every phase of the banking business and has ever maintained an even balance between conservatism and progressiveness in the conduct of the affairs of the institution of which he has been an official from the beginning.
In September, 1884, Mr. Schultz was married to Miss Busjaeger, a daughter of Albert and Fredericka (Salzmann) Busjaeger of Milwaukee. Two children have been born of this marriage: Armin D., who married Miss Erna Graf, a daughter of Charles A. and Matilda (Heinemann) Graf of this city, and is with the National Straw Works of Milwaukee; and Alfred F., who died in July, 1917. The family is well known in Milwaukee, the parents occupying an enviable social position. Mr. Schultz is a member of the Wisconsin Club, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Asso- ciation of Commerce, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Milwaukee Musical Society. His membership relations indicate clearly the nature of his inter- ests and activities outside of business and place him with the valued and repre- sentative residents of the Cream city.
WALLACE BEATSON WHITCOMB.
Wallace Beatson Whitcomb, violin maker of Milwaukee, whose productions are regarded as a valuable contribution to the realms of musical art, was born in Water- ford, Wisconsin, on the 24th of November, 1856. He comes of a family that has been distinctively American in its lineal and collateral lines for many generations. His grandfather, Aaron Whitcomb, was born in Vermont, as was his wife. He followed the occupation of farming and on leaving New England removed to the state of New York, settling in Jefferson county. There occurred the birth of his son Albert W. Whitcomb, who in young manhood left the Empire state and for a time resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was employed as paymaster and bookkeeper for the Cincin- nati, Dayton & Ohio Railroad Company. He then came to Wisconsin and for some time worked on the road being built westward from Milwaukee. The grade was established but the line was never constructed. Mr. Whitcomb became principal of the schools at Waterford, Wisconsin, and afterward occupied a similar position at Sheboygan Falls and was the first superintendent of schools in Sheboygan county. He was likewise a practicing physician, a licensed member of the bar and a civil engineer. Moreover, he became assistant actuary of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, which position he occupied for a year, and was then elected actuary, but his health failed, preventing his continuance in the position. He was a mathematician of notable ability and one of the six honorary members of the Paris Philosophical Society outside of France, an honor he obtained through his discoveries in the Tables of Logarithm. He wrote largely for mathematical magazines and was a deeply learned man. He was in close touch with mathematical professors of the leading colleges of this and other countries. His contributions to science were indeed valuable and he is numbered among those who have done much to push forward the wheels of progress. He married Rachel Scott Howard, a daughter of John Howard, a railroad contractor and of English descent. The first Howard to come to this country was the youngest son of the Duke of Norfolk, named Todd Howard. He was the father of John Howard, who settled in Lawrence county, New York, and purchased a large tract of land there. The foregoing record explains the extensive connection of Wallace Beatson Whitcomb with old families of New England and of New York. His father died in the year 1889 and was survived for a long period by his wife, who passed away in 1914.
Wallace B. Whitcomb obtained his early education in the public schools of She- boygan Falls, which he attended to the age of fourteen years, and then turned his attention to the watchmaking and jewelry business, which he followed for eight or ten
WALLACE B. WHITCOMB
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years in Milwaukee. From early youth he displayed a fondness for music and when but fourteen years of age he was leader of the band in this city. It was a logical step therefore that in 1887 he turned his attention to the business of manufacturing and selling violins. He has made over four hundred violins in his time, each one an instrument of first class, and he also does repair work on wood instruments. For eighteen years he has been at his present location at 126 Sycamore street, Milwaukee, and his business has become one of substantial proportions.
Mr. Whitcomb has been married twice. He first wedded Elinor Nancy Rawling. who died a year later, leaving a little son, Wallace Scott, who now has charge of the electrical department of the Philip Gross Hardware Company. For his second wife Mr. Whitcomb chose Rosa Z. A. Loignon, of Milwaukee, and they have one daughter, Nuna, now the wife of Arthur Borcherdt, an electrical contractor of the city, and the mother of a little son two years of age.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Whitcomb has given his political allegiance to the republican party but has never sought nor desired public office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Damascus Lodge, No. 290, A. F. & A. M., of Mil- wankee, of which he is a past master, and by the lodge he was presented with a fine gold watch in recognition of his valuable service thereto. He also belongs to Calumet Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M .; and to Milwaukee Council, R. & S. M., of which he is now thrice past illustrious master. He also has membership in the Calumet Club and has belonged to all the principal musical societies of this city. Throughout his entire life he has read broadly, thinks deeply, and he is a natural designer and artist, his skill in this connection, combined with his musical talent, making him highly proficient in his chosen life work.
CHARLES THOMPSON.
Charles Thompson has almost completed a third of a century of service with the Chicago & Northwestern, which he now represents as general agent at Mil- waukee. Step by step he has won advancement to the position of large respon- sibility which he now fills and at all times he has enjoyed the entire confidence and trust of those whom he represents. Milwaukee claims him as a native son and is proud of his record. He was born in 1866, his father being Charles Thompson, whose birth occurred in Norway and who became a resident of Milwaukee in 1844, when the city was but a small town. At one time the father was engaged in the ship industry but lived retired for a quarter of a century prior to his demise and was honored as one of the old and respected citizens here. He married Maren Grundy, also a native of Norway.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof Charles Thompson of this review acquired his education in the public schools and at nineteen made his initial step in the business world by securing a position in the freight offices of the North- western yards in the third ward. He acted in that capacity for six months and was then promoted to the position of freight solicitor. Promotion after promotion fol- lowed, giving him comprehensive knowledge of various phases of railroad activity, management and control and nineteen years after he first obtained employment with the company he returned to the office where he had started, this time as freight agent in charge of the department where he had begun as a clerk. On the 1st of August, 1906, he was advanced to the position of general agent for Milwaukee in charge of the freight and passenger business with the Northwestern road. At that time-fifteen years ago-the yearly earnings of the Milwaukee office were about two million dollars and something of the increase in the business is indicated in the fact that the annual earnings are today twenty-five million dollars. When Mr. Thompson entered the employ of the road the entire system had thirty-five hundred mileage and today this has been increased to nine thousand, six hundred and sixty- five, while the number of employes has advanced from sixty thousand to four hun- dred thousand. Moreover, when Mr. Thompson entered the service the North- western company operated but three trains daily each way between Milwaukee and Chicago, while today there are thirty and the best time between the two cities three decades or more ago was three hours. Today it is but an hour and fifty minutes. The same rate of improvement has been manifest in the freight service of the line and today a fast freight can reach the Pacific coast in better time than it required for the fastest passenger train thirty years ago. Since 1906 Mr. Thompson has been in absolute control of freight and passenger traffic in the second largest city on the nine thousand, six hundred and sixty-five miles of the lines of the Chicago & North- western.
On the 18th of February, 1896, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Margaret H. Upham of Milwaukee, a daughter of Emerson Olds Upham, a news- paper man, and they have a son, John Walker. Mr. Thompson was a most active
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worker in all war campaigns and represented the railroad administration on one of the most important committees. He also acted on numerous other committees and on the various drives to raise the funds necessary not only to finance the war but to promote the physical comforts and social well-being of the soldiers in camp and overseas. Mr. Thompson is himself a man of social, genial nature, which has made for popularity in the various clubs and organizations to which he belongs. He has been the president of the Milwaukee Athletic Club, also president of the Milwaukee Transportation Association and has served as a director of the Citizens' Business League. He likewise belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and is well known in Masonic circles, being a past master of Kilbourn Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and a member of Wisconsin Consistory of the Scottish Rite and has also been active in Tripoli Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and has ever been a faithful follower of the teachings and purposes of the craft. He belongs to the Old Settlers Club and his residence in Milwaukee covers a period of fifty-four years. His progress has been continuous and step by step he has advanced not only in business life but also in the regard and high esteem of his fellow townsmen.
JOHN E. FITZGIBBON.
John E. Fitzgibbon, vice president and general manager of the Phoenix Knitting Works and thus connected with one of the leading manufacturing interests of Mil- wankee, is also well known in many other connections, being prominent in the club circles of the city and also recognized as a political leader in republican ranks. He was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, February 7, 1885, a son of James H. and Agnes (Ryan) Fitzgibbon, the latter a native of Ireland, while the father was born in America.
John E. Fitzgibbon pursued his early education in the public schools and attended the West Division high school of Milwaukee, from which in due course of time he was graduated. After putting aside his textbooks he entered the Milwaukee Sentinel as office boy and in that connection worked his way upward to the position of advertis- ing manager, remaining in the office altogether for abont eight years. In 1908 he became associated with the Phoenix Hosiery Company as advertising manager and when he had filled that position for about seven or eight years he was elected to the vice presidency and also made general manager, having entire charge of the factory. This is one of the important manufacturing interests of the city. The Phoenix hosiery is known from one end of the country to the other and the name has become a recognized synonym for standard goods. The company has never sacrificed quality to quantity, but by reason of the worth of its product has built up a business of mammoth pro- portions.
In 1915 Mr. Fitzgibbon was married to Miss Elsbeth Malcolm of Milwaukee, and they have one daughter, Jane Elizabeth, who was born in 1918. Mr. Fitzgibbon has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and was presidential elector in 1920. He did his full share in war work and was sales director for War Savings Stamps for Wisconsin. He is identified with many interests of public con- cern and many of the leading social organizations of the city. He belongs to and is now vice president of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce and vice president of the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World. He belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Press Club, the Rotary Club, the BIne Mound Country Club and the Wood- mont Country Club and his social qualities have gained him wide popularity in these different organizations. There have heen no esoteric phases in his career. His course has been clearly defined and laudable ambition has actuated him at every point, so that step by step he has progressed and is today a fell known figure in business circles and in public connections in his adopted city.
THEODORE J. FERGUSON.
Theodore J. Ferguson, one of the alert, energetic and farsighted business men. of Wauwatosa, now vice president of the Hawks Nursery, was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1850, and is a son of Phineas C. and Malissa (Mershon) Ferguson, both of whom were natives of Springfield, Pennsylvania, where they resided until called to their final rest, the father there following the occupation of farming.
Theodore J. Ferguson was reared in the usual manner of the farm bred boy. He attended the country schools and in vacation periods assisted in the work of the fields. In fact, he early became familiar with the task of plowing, planting and harvesting, but after reaching adult age he began traveling and for fifteen years was engaged in the sale of nursery stock, going from coast to coast in connection
JOHN E. FITZGIBBON
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with this business. In 1889 he became associated with Charles H. Hawks in organ- izing a company and two years later the business was incorporated under the nanie of the Hawks Nursery Company, the main office being established at Rochester, New York. In March, 1893, a branch office was opened in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Mr. Ferguson took charge of this end of the business, becoming a resident of the village in 1895. The company has a forty-acre nursery here of shade trees and shrubs and ornamental stock and its business has grown to be one of the best of the kind in America. The name of Theodore J. Ferguson is widely known in connection with the nursery business and his enterprise and efforts have been a dominant element in the success of the company with which he is identified.
In November, 1892, Mr. Ferguson was married to Miss Emma Newman of Elkhart, Indiana, and they have become parents of three children: Edna; Frank N., who is cashier of the First National Bank of Wauwatosa; and Dorothy, the widow of Russell Holbrook. The daughter, Edna, was with the Y. M. C. A. in the welfare work in France for more than a year during the World war, visiting the soldiers camps and doing everything possible to promote their comfort and entertainment. After the war she visited various European cities and countries and her life has been enriched with the many experiences that came to her through her nnselfish devotion to the interests of the soldiers and her later European travels. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Old Settlers' Club and is most promi- nently known in Wauwatosa, where he has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
HARRY A. PLUMB.
Harry A. Plumb, secretary and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Milwaukee, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, October 19, 1867, and is a son of Dr. Henry and Sarah Eugenia (Tolles) Plumb, who were natives of Con- necticut. They removed to Pleasanton, Kansas, in 1868 and there the father still resides at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He is a physician by profession but has been retired for a number of years. He served as a surgeon in the Civil war, with the rank of major.
Harry A. Plumb obtained a public school education in Kansas and also attended the Chicago high school. After putting aside his textbooks he was employed by the Armour Packing Company in Chicago for a period of four years. In 1893 he came to Milwaukee and entered the employ of the Chamber of Commerce as assistant secretary, acting in that capacity until 1909, when he was promoted to the position of secretary, which office he has since filled. He has given his entire time and atten- tion to his duties in this connection and has made himself widely known among the grain men of the country. His labors have been a most potent force in the npbuild- ing of the organization which he represents and in the extension of its work along the lines of improving trade conditions, promoting outside business connections and upholding all those interests and activities which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride.
On the 31st of December, 1889, Mr. Plumb was married to Miss Isabel Langson of Milwaukee and they have become parents of two children: Eugenia and Leslie. The latter served in the Three Hundred and Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry during the World war as a member of the medical department and went overseas, being away from his native country for about a year. Mr. Plumb is a member of the Elks Club and is widely known, his social qualities making for popularity among a wide circle of acquaintances.
JAMES E. KREIL.
There is perhaps no life history in this volume which indicates more clearly the possibility of achievement in this broad land of ours than does the record of James E. Kreil. Starting out in the business world in a most humble capacity, he made steady advancement through his own efforts until he became the vice presi- dent of the Reinhart Mitten Company of Milwaukee, a position which he occupied to the time of his death.
He was born in Vienna, Austria, on the 17th of March, 1871, and was a son of Anton and Frances Kreil. The father died in his native land, but the mother afterward determined to come to the United States, believing that she might here afford her children better opportunities for advancement. Accordingly the family left Austria, crossed the Atlantic and made their way westward in this country to Michigan. After residing in that state for a time they came to Wisconsin and
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established their home in Milwaukee, where James E. Kreil entered the employ of the Reinhart Mitten Company as a cutter. Step by step he advanced, winning one promotion after another until he was elected as one of the officials of the company and for a considerable period was vice president of the corporation. His thorough- ness enabled him to quickly master every phase of the business and his comprehen- sive understanding of the work qualified him in his later years to direct the efforts of employes in the factory.
In 1896 Mr. Kreil was united in marriage to Miss Mary Guschel, who passed away in 1900, leaving a son, William, who is now a traveling salesman for the Netz Glove & Mitten Company of Milwaukee; and a daughter, Louise, now Mrs. Oscar Parker. On the 6th of October, 1908, Mr. Kreil was again married, his second union being with Mary Schwartzby, a daughter of Charles and Ellen (Kitts) Schwartzby, residents of Green Bay, Wisconsin. There were four children of this marriage: James, Frances, Carl and Arthur.
Mr. Kreil belonged to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and his religious faith was that of the Catholic church. In politics he maintained an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment rather than according to party ties. On the 5th of May, 1916, he was called to his final rest and Milwaukee thus lost a citizen who had made for himself a most creditable and substantial position in husi- ness circles. He concentrated his attention upon manufacturing interests and one element of his progress was the fact that he always continued in the same line in which he embarked in early manhood, never dissipating his energies over a wide field. His labors, therefore, brought a substantial reward and he was able to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances.
MRS. LOUISA K. THIERS.
Some years ago the newspapers of Wisconsin and especially of Kenosha and of Milwaukee chronicled the fact that Mrs. Louisa K. Thiers was approaching the cen- tury mark. Each year since that time the papers have teemed with interesting accounts of the celebration of her hundredth, hundred and first, hundred and second anniversaries and so on down to the present time, when at the age of one hundred and seven years she still graces the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Quarles of Mil- waukee, and not infrequently makes visits to the homes of her sons. What a wonder- ful history is hers! Born in 1814, during the administration of President Monroe, she has witnessed the introduction of the steam car, the telegraph, the telephone, the commercialized use of electricity and the hundred and one other things which have made the past century marvelous for its achievements. Moreover, she has the dis- tinction today of being the oldest member of the Danghters of the American Revolu- tion and is a real daughter, for her father, Dr. Seth Capron, aided in achieving American independence. He was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, September 23, 1762, and came of French ancestry. He was a great-grandson of Banfield Capron, the first representative of the name in America. Banfield Capron, with three boys about his own age-fourteen years-who were schoolmates, agreed to leave their friends in England and come to the new world. They concealed themselves in the hold of a vessel which was about to sail, with food enough for a few days, and thus they left Chester, in Cheshire county, a seaport on the north of England, in the year 1674. When the vessel was four days out they were discovered but after some parley were allowed to continue on the voyage. Banfield Capron lived in Massachusetts until 1752, when he passed away at the age of ninety-two years, leaving a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, which number included Jonathan Capron, who in turn was the father of Elisha Capron and he of Dr. Seth Capron.
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